At the Gillette Stadium here late Saturday, Argentina showed ample glimpses of their awesome firepower by overpowering 2011 Copa America finalists Venezuela 4-1 in the quarter-finals.
Gonzalo Higuain (8th, 28th minutes) struck twice for the 14-time champions while Lionel Messi (60th) and Erik Lamela (71st) scored once each.
It was a historic occasion for Messi as he drew level with former star striker Gabriel Batistuta’s all time highest tally for Argentina at 54 goals.
Later, Chile routed a hapless Mexico 7-0 at the Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, California in a last-eight game.
Eduardo Vargas (44th, 52nd, 57th, 74th) got a hattrick while Edson APuch (16th, 87th) got a brace. Alexis Sanchez (49th) completed the tally.
In the semi-finals, Argentina will meet hosts US while Chile is expected to face a tough task against Colombia.
–IANS
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